SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame will face LSU for the second time in four years when the programs meet on New Year’s Day in the Citrus Bowl. The Fighting Irish beat the Tigers in the 2014 Music City Bowl, 31-28.

He also has experience with Notre Dame from when he coached at USC, working on staffs for Paul Hackett, Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin.

His most recent game against the Irish came in his second outing as USC’s interim head coach after the Trojans fired Kiffin in 2013. Notre Dame won 14-10.

2. LSU will try to stop the run

Notre Dame RB Josh Adams's production has slowed the late in the season.(Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

The 14th-ranked Tigers are used to facing smash-mouth rushing attacks in the SEC and will be prepared for Josh Adams. The Notre Dame running back was briefly in the Heisman Trophy discussion while averaging 146.1 yards a game and 8.9 yards a carry through the first eight games. He then dipped to 54.5 yards a game and 3.7 yards per carry over the last four after a slew of injuries. Adams is healthy for the Citrus Bowl.

Here’s what Brian Kelly had to say this week about his team’s preparation for LSU’s physical defense, which is ranked No. 13 in the country.

“Each year from week to week you see defensive schemes and philosophies,” Kelly said. “(LSU is) three-down base package, we know what we’re gonna get there, we know what the coverage variations are gonna look like. We know they’re gonna stop the run, where’s it coming from?

“In one sense, yeah they’re gonna be aggressive, it’s really gonna be about how we control the extra hat and we’re gonna have to make some throws on the outside. This game is gonna be about making some plays on the outside to get them off us a little bit. And then finding opportunities in the running game.”

3. LSU has Leonard Fournette part II?

Notre Dame played against Fournette three years ago and he rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Kelly remembers that well and sees physical similarities in junior running back Derrius Guice.

“Great speed, but what really stood out to me was his ability to run over guys,” Kelly said. “Another line of great backs at LSU. And he’s feature, too. He’s going to get the ball. He’s going to get his carries.”

Guice, who dealt with a knee injury during the season, is currently “nursing an injury” and missed practice this week but will play in the bowl.

4. LSU will be missing defensive starters

LSU will be without three defensive starters against Notre Dame. Pass rusher Arden Key and linebackers Corey Thompson and Donnie Alexander are all hampered with injuries that will keep them out of the Citrus Bowl.

According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, their replacements are young and inexperienced. Freshmen K’Lavon Chaisson and Ray Thornton could replace Key, while Tyler Taylor could come in for Alexander. Sophomore Michael Divinity would step in for Thompson.

Notre Dame boasts the nation’s top offensive line — it won the Joe Moore Award this season, which is given to the best offensive line in the country. And Adams leads a seventh-ranked rushing attack.

5. LSU QB is a Notre Dame fan from Indiana

Tigers quarterback Danny Etling grew up in a Catholic family in Terre Haute watching the Fighting Irish. He has a Joe Montana jersey hanging in his room at home, according to the Baton Rouge Advocate. He went to a few games in the Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen eras with his dad and still has ticket stubs saved.

He was never offered a scholarship by Notre Dame and began his college career at Purdue before transferring to LSU.

The senior quarterback has completed 60 percent of his passes this season, has a 155.3 passer rating and has thrown 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions.